Young adult contemporary fantasy

Alisha Romero has 99 problems, and being chosen as a human sacrifice in a decades-long ritual is all of them.

Once every ten years an idyllic island hosts a secret cull to ensure continued peace and prosperity. When Alisha learns she is chosen, she must find a way to outwit and survive a cult that controls everything—and everyone—around her.

Combining Aztec-inspired mythology, human sacrifice and witchcraft, Acanthus is a YA contemporary fantasy novel that explores the dangers of extremism, the motivations of fear, and the lengths people will go to not only to save themselves, but those they care for.